Roof expansion joint



Jan. 10, 1967 W W, THQM 3,296,762

Roor EXPANSION JOINT Filed Dec. 31, 1962 2 SheetS-Shee' l z .I u

/ W 0 JN INVENTOR. /Ve/Yze/ /44 7h am 'f w? ATTORNE Jan. 10, 1967 w. w.THoM 3,296,762

ROOF EXPANSION JOINT Filed Dec. 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 524 64 fb m .82466 45/' 72 IN VENTOR. We/fze/ W 7/70/7? f' MNEY United States Patent O3.296,762 ROOF EXPANSION JOINT Wenzel W. Thorn, Wichita, Kansi, assignorof one-half to Cecil D. Jones, Wichita, Kans. Filed Dec. 31, 1962, Ser.No. 248,579 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-395) This invention relates to novelexpansion joint structure, and particularly to a roof expansion jointcover adapted to eifectively Seal the joint between a pair of relativelymovable roof Sections without in any way interfering with expansion andcontraction of the Sections under varying atmospheric conditions.

It is the primary object 'of the present invention to provide a roofexpansion joint cover assembly which is effective to seal the jointfbetween roof Sections without interfering with relative movementthereof, 'but which may be manufactured and installed at a lower costthan prior expansion joint covers, and has a useful life at least asgreat and in most instances, greater than presently used cover members.

Another significant object of the invention is to provide an improvedroof expansion joint cover assembly which may be prefabricated instandard lengths and then cut to size at the site of installationthereof, thus substantially lowering the cost of the assembly from boththe construction and fabrication standpoints by virtue of theelimination of costly custom installation methods.

A further important `object of the invention is to provide a roofexpansion joint cover assembly that may be prefabricated to standardsize as referred to above wherein novel structure is employed to permitend-to-end installation of standard length components without in any wayinterfering with the weather-tight Seal provided `over the relativelymovable roof Sections and without presenting problems of close tolerancerequirements to assure provision of an effective seal over the roofjoint.

Also an important aim of the invention is to provide a roof expansionjoint cover assembly which may be manufactured and distributed at alower price than the cost of custom roof joint cover installationsbecause the components of the present joint cover are configured topermit extrusion thereof from material such as aluminurn having a highstrength-to-weight ratio. In this respect, another important object ofthe invention is to provide a roof expansion joint cover assembly whichmay be extruded of corrosion resistant material capable of with-Standing relatively great loads thereon, obviating the requirement ofconducting frequent maintenance on the cover assembly and permittingutilization of the cover assembly in various climates, including thosewhere relatively heavy snow loads are encountered on roof Sections.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the followingspecification progresses, reference being had to the accornpanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary, perspective view of one embodiment of theexpansion joint cover structure forming the subject of the presentinvention and illustrated in the normal disposition thereof 'on a pairof roof sections, parts being broken away and in section to illustratedetails of construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the side of the expansionjoint structure opposite to the side illustrated in perspective in FIG.1, parts being broken away and in section to illustrate constructionaldetails;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, Vertical, cross-sectional view of the expansionjoint cover structure mounted on the spaced roof sections with theinitial positions of the longitudinally extending flanges of the opposedjoint structures being illustrated in dotted lines, while the locationof the flanges in relation to conventional layers of roof- 3,2%,752Patented Jan. 10, 1967 ing material empl'oyed 'on the roof Sections isindicated by the full-line flange disposition; and

FIG. 4 is a Vertical, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of thepresent invention and illustrating the manner in which the same ismounted on a roof section adjacent the extremity thereof abutting theupright wall of a building.

The present invention relates to roof expansion joint cover structureadapted to be mounted on either a pair of opposed, spaced roof Sections,or in covering relationship to a joint between a roof section and anupright wall forming a part of a building on which the cover assembly ismounted, and operable t'o effectively seal the joints, lregardless ofexpansion and contraction of the roof sections under varying atmosphericconditions.

The expansion joint cover assembly is made up of a number of componentsof cross-section configuration permitting extrusion thereof so that thecomponents may be manufactured in standard lengths and then cut to sizeat the site of installation thereof. The cover assembly includes a pairof elongated members adapted to be secured to the opposed, spaced roofSections in longitudinal alignment therewith and having upstandingportions thereon movable toward and away from each other duringexpansion and contraction of the roof Sections and serving as means formounting a horizontally disposed extension overlying the space betweenthe upstanding portions, and of greater width to provide a sealthereover, regardless of the space between the members. An el'ongated,flexible sealing member is provided at'the upper margins of theelongated members to provide a weather-tight Seal therebetween andpreferably extending the full length of the cover members to precludeentrance of moisture into the space between the upstanding porti'ons ofthe cover members under all weather conditions, including completecovering of the cover assembly with snow.

Novel flashing members are provided to permit joinder of the mainexpansion members in end-to-end relation- Ship without sacrifice to theweather-proofness there-of, or the ability of the expansion joint coverto withstand heavy loads and expand and contract during atmosphericchanges.

Although the various components of the present cover assembly aredesigned to be produced in standard lengths to minimize the cost-thereof, the construction thereof is such as to permit installation 'ofthe components without wastage of material by virtue of the novel way inwhich the components are assembled in place and the effective seals thatare provided Where members are in end-to-end relationship.

The expansion joint cover structure ernbodying the preferred concepts ofthe present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 in thedrawings and includes a pair of elongated members 12 and 14 ofcross-sectional configuration permitting extrusion thereof from aluminumor similar corrosion resistant, high-load bearing material, with each ofthe members 12 and 14 being provided with a relatively flat foot segment16 adapted to be secured to opposed wooden roof section stringers 18 and20 located on spaced roof Sections 22 and 24 respectively. As apparentfrom FIGS. 1 and 3, the roof Sections 22 and 24, and thereby thestringers 18 and 20, are located in spaced relationship 'to present ajoint therebetween. The planar foot segments 16 of members 12 and 14 areadapted to be secured to respective stringers 18 and 20 by fasteners 26Such as screws extending through suitable apertures 28 therefor in footsegments 16, and with opposed, longitudinally extending adjacent margins16a thereof in Vertical alignment With the opposed facing surfaces ofstringers 18 and 20.

The members 12 and 14 are provided with a normally upstanding,longitudinally extending leg portion 30 integral with an intermediate,longitudinal segment of respective foot portion 16 of members 12 and 14,and are of transversely arcuate configuration adjacent the latter tocause the upright faces 30a of leg portions 30 to be in verticalalignment with the joint defining faces of stringers 18 and 20, as bestshown in FIG. 3.

The longitudinally extending, transversely rectangular segments 32integral with the upper marginal sections of leg portions 30 projectaway from faces 30a in overlying relationship to the arc'uate sectionsof leg portions 30, and each have a longitudinally extending,transversely trapezoidal notch 34 in the normally uppermost facesthereof, and downwardly opening, longitudinally extending grooves 36 inthe lower surfaces thereof adjacent leg portions 30.

An elongated, transversely L-shaped flashing element 38 and preferablyof the same length as member 14, is mounted on segment 32 thereofthrough a plurality of screws 40 extending through suitable apertures 42therefor in the main upright planar portions 38a of members 38 andcomplementally threaded into an extruded slot 51 extendinglongitudinally of the segment 32 of member 14. The inwardly directed legsegment 381) of element 38 is normally located in overlying, verticallyspaced relationship to the segment 32 of member 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

In the construction of element 38, the metal billet from which the sameis formed is passed through a die of configuration causing a groove 44to be formed in the face thereof normally directed toward and adjacentleg portion 30 of member 14 and dividing planar portion 38a intoindividual segments 38a' and 38a with the normally lowermost segment 38aat an obtuse angle with respect to the upper segment 38a' as indicatedby the dotted lines in FIG. 3. A longitudinally extending, enlarged rib38c integral with the normally lowermost margin of segment 38a, has aninwardly directed, arcuate face adapted to be forced into engagementwith layers of roofing material such as tar paper, as will be explainedhereinafter.

The elongated cover element broadly designated 46 and mounted on member12 is similar to element 38 in major respects in that the same has amain, normally upright, planar portion 46a divided into upper and lowersegments 46a' and 46a with the latter initially being at an obtuse anglewith reference to segment 46a', as illustrated by dotted lines in FIG.3.

The laterally extending leg portion 461; of cover element 46 is adaptedto extend across the space between members 12 and 14 and has a short,transverse leg segment 46b' integral with planar portion 46a at theupper margin thereof, and of a width generally equal to the transverse,horizontal dimension of segment 32 of member 12 and located insubstantially the same spaced relationship therefrom as the spacingbetween leg portion 38h and segment 32 of member 14. The main planarsegment 4611 of cover 46 and integral with segment 46b' through offset46b', is vertically spaced from segment 46h' a distance tocomplementally engage the upper face of leg segment 38h of element 38.An outer downturned leg segment 46c, integral with the longitudinalmargin of leg segment 4617 remote from main planar portion 46a thereof,is normally located outboard of element 38 and has an inwardly directedlip 46c' on the lower longitudinal edge thereof. The segment 461) ofcover element 46 is of suficient transverse width to permit substantialmovement of member 14 relative to member 12 without engagement of 'theplanar segment 38a of element 38 with the leg portion 46c of element 46.

The planar segment 46a of element 46 is provided With a series ofapertures 48 located in spaced relationship longitudinally of element 46and adapted to clear respective screws 50 identical to screws 40 andcomplementally threaded into elongated slot 51 formed in segment 32 atthe upper portion of member 12 at the time of extrusion thereof.

In order to provide an effective weather-proof seal for the jointbetween members 12 and 14, an elongated gasket 52 of resilient materialsuch as rubber or neoprene is clamped between cover element 46 andsegments 32, as best shown in FIG.- 3. The gasket 52 is of a width tospan the distance between members 12 and 14 when the latter are at thepositions thereof represented by the most extreme excursion of onemember relative to the other, and -opposed, longitudinal marginalportions of gasket 52 are provided with integral, normally downwardlyextending projections 52a adapted to be complementally received withincorresponding notches 34 in segments 32. It is to be noted that when themembers 12 and 14 are located in their normal closest relationship, theintermediate section of gasket 52 is transversely folded, presenting avalley so that member 14 may move through substantial distances relativeto member 12 without stretching of gasket 52 transversely thereof.

In view of the fact that members 12 and 14 are preferably extruded instandard lengths to minimize the cost of the over-all assembly, and toreduce the number of elements required to be stocked if the roofsections 22 and 24 and thereby stringers 18 and 20 exceed the normalstandard lengths of members 12 and 14, the latter may be located inend-to-end relationship as illustrated in FIG. l. Under thesecircumstances, structure is provided for permitting weather-tightsealing of the joints between abutting ends of members 12 and 14 therebyavoiding wastage of any of the cover assembly elements. It is to beunderstood however, that the gasket 52 is preferably furnished in alength sufiicient to extend the full stretch of the joint defined bystringers 18 and 20, so that any moisture that might pass betweenadjacent ends of members 12 and 14, or under the lower face of coverelements 46, will be trapped by gasket 52 and thereby precluded frompassing downwardly into the roof joint.

FIGURE 1 shows the way in which members 12 and 14, as well 'as a pair ofcover elements 46, may be joined in end-to-end relationship where thelength of stringers 18 and 20 exceeds the normal longitudinal dimensionof a full-length member 12 or 14, or cover element 46, or pieces cutfrom other sections used on roof joints of the same or dilferentbuildings. In order to maintain structure 10 in a weather-tightcondition, the members 12 and 14 and the cover elements 46, arepreferably broken at spaced points longitudinally of structure 10,thereby preventing direct excess of moisture to the portion of the jointcover directly above the upper surface of gasket 52. Therefore, as shownin FIG. 1, the break for members 12 and 14 is spaced approximately 24inches from the point of break-age of the cover elements 46. It is, ofcourse, obvious that the distance between the breaks can be varied,depending upon the particular installation. It is also to be preferredthat adjacent extremities of members 12 and 14, as well as proximal endsof cover elements 46, be located in slightly spaced relationship tocompensate for longitudinal expansion of the members under varying'atmospheric conditions.

A pair of splicer panels 54 are provided for the break joint of members12 and 14 in order to cover the joint between adjacent ends thereof andas best shown in FIG. 1. Each of the splicer panels 54 has atransversely curved main segment 56 designed to complementally engagethe upwardly facing surfaces of members 12 and 14 respectively, with theupper edges of segments 56 being received in grooves 36 in the lowerfaces of segments 32 of members 12 and 14. The transversely L-shapedskirt portion 58 of panels 54 are configured to extend beyond the outermargins of members 12 and 14 and to lie in flat, complemental engagementwith the tapered faces 60 of stringers 18 and 20.

The panels 54 are preferably secured to stringers 18 and 20 by a seriesof screws 62 passing through suitable apertures therefor in skirtportions 58 and threaded into tapered surfaces 60 of stringers 18 and20. The panels 54 Can obviously be of any desired length but it has beenfound desirable to employ 18 in. panels to assure adequate covering ofthe joint between adjacent ends of members 12 and 14.

The break joint between cover elements 46 is covered by an elongated,transversely irregular plate 64 of configuration to complementallyengage the outer surface of adjacent extremities of cover elements 46with the plate 64 having longitudinally extending, transverselyinterconnected segments complementally engageable with the various legportions of cover elements 46 as is best shown' in FIG. 3.

The lowermost leg portion 64a of plate 64, engageable With the legportions 46a of cover elements 46, is provided with a series ofapertures 65 spaced longitudinally of plate 64 adjacent one end thereofand adapted to clear respective, self-tapping metal screws 66 threadedinto suitable openings 68 therefor in one of the cover elements 46. Itis to be appreciated that the apertures 65 can be formed in cover plate64 at the time of fabric-ation thereof, but the openings 68 arepreferably drilled at the time of installation of structure 10.Apertures 70 in the longitudinally extending planar leg portion 64h ofplate 64, and directly opposite to apertures 65 remote from leg portion64a and spaced longitudin-ally of plate 64 at the one end thereof,receive self-tapping metal screws 72 threaded into openings 74 drilledin the leg segment 640 of cover element 46. Again, the plates 64 arepreferably about 18 inches long and thereby terminate in relativelyclose relationship to the adjacent extremities of panels 54. As apparentin FIG. 1, the plate 64 is rigidly secured to only one of the coverelements 46 to permit relative movement between adjacent cover elements46.

In installing structure on roof Sections 22 and 24, the members 12 and14 are initially placed on stringers 18 and 20 in the loc-ations shown,whereup screws 26 are driven into the upper surfaces of stringers 18 and20 to securely affix the members thereto. If the roof Sections 22 and 24are of greater length longitudinally of the joint therebetween, it isnecessary that more than one member 12 or 14 be provided on respectivestringers 18 and 20 and, therefor, a pair of the members is located inend-toend relationship as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Approximatelyone-quarter inch spacing is provided between proximal extremities of themembers 12 and 14 to compensate for expansion thereof. The panels 54 aremounted on stringers 18 and 20 in spanning relationship to the breakjoints between members 12 and 14 with the upper extremities of panels 54being located in corresponding grooves 36 in members 12 'and 14, withthe skirt portions 58 thereof rigidly affixed to tapered faces 60 ofstringers 18 and 20 by screws 62.

Next, the usual layers of tar paper provided on roof Sections 22 and 24are laid thereover with the margins of the paper 76 laid against theoutwardly disposed surfaces of segments 16 and leg portions of members12 and 14, as indicated in FIG. 3. Four or five Courses of the paper 76are normally placed over roof Sections 22 and 24, and tar may be used tocause the margins thereof to lay in complemental engagement with theoutwardly curved surface of foot segments 16 and leg portions 30 ofmembers 12 and 14.

The gasket 52 is then installed with the projections 52a thereof locatedin notches 34 and with the gasket 52 preferably extending the fulllength of stringers 18 and 20. Next, the generally L-Shaped elements 38are sec'ured to segments 32 of aligned members 14 with the leg segments38h of elements 38 clamping the proximal longitudinal margin of gasket52 against segments 32 of members 14. The screws 40 are threaded throughapertures 42 into slots 51 to firmly affix elements 38 to correspondingmembers 14. It is to be understood that elements 38 are 0 preferably ofthe Same length as members 14 and are broken at the Same points asmembers 14.

The cover elements 46 are next installed in overlying relationship tomembers 12 and 14 w-ith the break joints for cover elements 46 beinglocated in spaced relationship from the break joints for members 12 and14, as previously described. The cover elements 46 clamp the otherlongitudinal margin of gasket 52 against segments 32 of members 12,thereby securely fixing the gasket 52 against longitudinal movement ofmembers 12 zand 14. Screws 50 are threaded into slots 51 .in segments 32of members 12 to rigidly mount cover elements 46 on members 12. Theplates 64 are then placed over the break joints between cover elements46 as shown in FIG. 1, with the screws 66 and 72 being threaded intoapertures 68 and 74 drilled in cover elements 46. The screws 66 and 72are threaded into only one of adjacent cover elements 46 to permitrelative movement between each plate 64 and an adjacent pair of members12 and 14.

It has been found preferable to construct cover elements 46 with theangle between legs 46a and 461) thereof at 'approximately so that uponsecuring of legs 46a to segments 32 of members 12, the under faces oflegs 46h are in clamping engagement with the upwardly disposed surfacesof leg portions 38h of elements 38.

The workmen then pound the segments 33a of elements 38 inwardly againstthe paper to cause the ribs 38c thereof to form recesses in the paperextending longitudinally of members 12 and 14. The lines of weakness inelemen-ts 38 provided by elongated grooves 44, assure that the legs 38aof elements 38 bend along grooves 44 as the workmen pound the segments38a toward the layers of paper or felt 76.

Next, tar is laid over the paper or felt layers 76 and also up over theouter surfaces of elements 38, as well as panels 54 and plates 64. Theusual gravel finish is then deposited on the tar while in a viscouscondition and with the gravel also extending over the lower extremitiesof the elements 38 and leg portions 64a of plates 64.

As is most apparent in FIG. 3, the members 12 and 14 are preferably ofidentical cross-Sectional configuration so that the same may be formedfrom the same die and significantly reducing the number of parts thatmust be stocked by the fabricator of the expansion joint cover structure10, and also, minimizing wastage of material at the site of installationof the components.

The expansion joint cover assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 of `thedrawings and broadly designated by the numeral is Specifically designedto elfectively cover the expansion joint between a roof section such as22 or 24, and an upright wall 178 of a building. The structure 110employs an elongated member 112 which is identical in cross-seotionalconfiguration to members 12 and 14 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive.The member 112 is mounted on roof section 24 for example, adjacent theupright joint defining face 24a thereof with the planar foot portion 116of member 112 being secured to roof Section 24 by a series of fastenersin the nature of screws 126 extending through apertures 128 in footpor-tion 116 and threaded into roof section 24.

The upper segment 132 of member 112 is identical with the segments 32 ofmembers 12 and 14 is thereby provided with a longitudinally extending,upwardly opening notch 134 in the upper face thereof designed to receivethe integral, longitudinally extending rib projection 152a of a gasket152 designed specifically for use with structure 110. The fiashingelement 138 mounted on member 112 in clamping engagement with theproximal longitudinal margin of gasket 152, is identical in constructionto the flashing element 38 and is secured to segment 132 by a series ofscrews 140 passing through suitable apertures 142 therefor and receivedin the longitudinally extending slot 151 in segment 132.

A generally Z-shaped cover plate 146 is provided for closing the jointbetween the upright face of wall 178 and member 112. The normallyupright leg 180 of cover plate 146 is adapted to be secured directly tothe face of wall 178 opposed to member 112 with a series of openings 182being provided in leg 180 of plate 146 in spaced relationshiplongi-tudinally thereof for receiving a series of screws 184 threadedinto wall 178. The face 180a of leg 180 is provided with alongitudinally eXtending projection 186 thereon in generallyperpendicular relationship to face 180a and adapted to engage the outersurface of wall 178 to serve as a fulcrum point when 'the screws 184 aredrawn down tight against leg 180 to force the planar leg 188 of plate146 integral with the normally lowermost margin of leg 180, into tightfrictional engagement with the upper surface of segment 132 of member112.

The face 180a of leg 180 is also provided with a pair of grooves 190 and192 therein, extending longitudinally of plate 146 in generally parallelrelationship and located in proximal relationship to the zone of mergerof leg 180 with leg 188 thereof. The groove 192 is of generallyrectangular cross section, while the groove 190 is of parallelepipedconfiguration.

The longitudinal margin 152a of gasket 152 has a pair of parallel,outwardly extending rib projections 194 and 196 respectively, ofconfiguration to be complementally received in the grooves 190 and 192respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 4. By virtue of the parallelepipedconfiguration of groove 190, and thereby the rib extension 194, themargin 15211 of gasket 152 is eifectively maintained in properdisposition between the face 180a of leg 180 and the upright proximalface of wall 178. As explained with respect to structure 10, the gasket152 is preferably of sufficient transverse width to form an intermediatefold therein longitudinally of the same to permit the member 112 'toshift relative to wall 178 without stretchng the gasket 152 across thewidth thereof.

The outer, downwardly directed leg 198 of cover plate 146, integral withthe outer margin of leg 188 remote from building wall 178, andconfigured identically with leg portion 46c of cover plate 46, isdesigned to preclude entrance of moisture into the joint over the top ofsegment 132 of member 112.

It is also contemplated that each of the members 112 and coverplates 146be of standard lengths, thereby oftentimes requiring that the members112 and plates 146 be positioned on roof section 24 in end-to-endrelationship. The members 112 and cover plates 146 are located inslightly spaced relationship as set forth above to compensa-te forexpansion thereof, and a panel broadly designated 200 is located overthe break joint between adjacent extremities of cover plates 146. Thecover panels 200 covering each break joint should be approximately 18nches long and are of cross-sectional configuration to complementallyoverlie and engage the upwardly disposed surfaces of adjacentextremities of cover plates 146.

Attention is directed to |the integral, outwardly directed rib 202integral with the upper margin of leg 180 and lying in the major planethereof which serves as a retainer for the hook ex'tremity 204 of panel200 that extends longitudinally of the upper margin of the latter. Theother structure for retaining panel 200 on adjacent extremities of coverplates 146 comprises a series of metal, self-tapping screws 206 passed'through suitable apertures therefor in the lower leg portion 200a ofcover panel 200 and threaded into suitable openings therefor drilled inone of the legs 198 of cover plates 146. Since the screws 206 aresecured to only one of adjacent extremities of cover plates 146, 'thelatter are free to shift relatively beneath the cover panel 200.

Another elongated cover plate 208 is mounted on flashing elements 38over the break joint therebetween with self-tapping metal screws 210passing through suitable openings therefor in plate 208 and threadedinto openings therefor in one of the extremities of adjacent flashingelements 138, and etfectively precludes entrance of moisture into thebreak joint 'between adjacent members 112.

' ening the cost It is preferable that the break joints of members 112be spaced from 18 to 24 nches from the lbreak joints for cover plates146 as previously described.

In mounting structure on a roof, the members 112 are preferablyinitially secured to roof section 24 in the disposition illustrated inFIG. 4 employing the screws 126, Whereupon layers of felt 76 are placedover roof section 24 and lapped against the outer, upwardly directedsurface -of member 112. The gasket 152 is then placed in properdisposition with the projection 152a thereof located in 'groove 134 ofsegment 132 and the flashing elements 138 then located 'over gasket 152and secured to segment 132 by the screws 140. If the longtudinaldimension of roof section 24 exceeds the standard lengths of members112, the latter are broken at spaced joints as indicated. The breakjoints between elements 138 which preferably are generally aligned withthe break joints in members 112, are covered .'by the plates 208suitably secured to one of each adjacent pairs of fiashing elements 138by screws 210. The workmen then pound the lower leg portions 138a"against the layers of felt to provide a waterproof seal at the lowermargin of structure 110.

The cover plates 146 are then placed in proper disposition on members112 with screws 184 servin g to rigidly secure each cover |plate 146 tothe vertical face of wall 178. If the length of roof section 24 exceedsthe standard length of members 112 and cover plates 146, the latter arebroken in spaced relationship to the break joint between mem- 'bers 112and a cover panel 200 placed thereover in disposition as shown in FIG.4. The screws 206 serve to rigidly fix the cover panel 200 to one of thepairs of adjacent extremities of cover plates 146 presenting a jointtherebetween.

The ribs 202 -of the cover plates 146 located in spaced relationship tothe proximal face of wall 178, define an upwardly opening, generallyrectangular calking groove adapted to receive a line of calking 212introduced into the groove after fabrication 'of structure 110. Thus, acomplete water-proof seal is provided .for the joint between wall 178and roof section 24 with the latter being free to move relative to wall178 without interfering with the weather-tight properties of structure110.

The gasket 152 also preferably lruns the full length of the jointcovered by structure 110 to absolutely preclude entrance of moistureinto the building through the joint. As previously noted, all of thecomponents are of extrudable cross-sectional configuration, therebymaterially lessof the roof joint covering structures and permittingfabrication of the same from relatively lightweight -materials havinghigh-load bearing characteristics and resistant to corrosion of alltypes. F urthermore, since the members 112, 12 and 14 are of generallyidentical construction, the number of parts that the .fabricator muststock is 'substantially reduced and permitting the components to be usedon various types of roof installations.

Having thus descri-bed the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Expansion joint structure for a pair of relatively shiftable roofSections having upper surfaces and separated by a joint, said structurecomprising:

a pair of elongated, end-to-end expansion joint assem- 'blies forclosing said joint, each |of said assemblies including first and secondexpansion members adapted to be secured to said roof sections and extendoutwardly from the surfaces thereof at the margins of the roof -sectionsdefining said joint, the first and second expansion members of oneassembly being substantially aligned with corresponding first and secondexpansion members of the other assembly;

an elongated, flexible element secured to and spanning the distancebetween the first and second vmembers of each assembly, said fiexi-bleelement extendng longitudinally of said assemblies and bridging thejuncton therebetween;

a pair of elongated, end-to-end, first flashing members secured to saidfirst expansion members, said flash- 9 ing members each having a lateralextension overlying the corresponding second me-mber, one of said firstflashing members being :disposed with the lateral extension thereof incovering relationship to the junction between said assemblies;

a cover plate secured to the first fiashing members and disposed foricovering the junction t-herebetween;

a pair of elongated, end-to-end, :second fiashing members secured tosaid second ex'pansion members, one |of said second fiashing membersbeing disposed in closing relationshp to at least a portion of thejunction between said a'ssemblies, said first and second flashingmembers having lowermost extensions norrnally spaced from the majorportions of respective first and second expansion members to formregions =f=or receiving roofing material, each of said lowermostextensions being provided With a line of weakness therein to permit theextension to be bent toward the corresponding expansion member andthereby clamp the roofing 'material to the last-mentioned expansionmember; and

a pair of coupling plates for interconnecting the assem- 'blies, a firstof said coupling plates vbeing secured to the :sides of aligned firstexpansion members in closing -relationship to the j unction between theassemblies, the `second of said coupling plates being secured to thesides of aligned, second expansion members in closing relationship tothe junction between the assemblies.

2. Expansion joint structure for a pair of relatively shiftable roofsections having respective upper surfaces separated by a jointherebetween, said structure comprismg:

a pair of expansion members adapted to be secured to respective sectionsadjacent the margins thereof defining said joint and to extend upwardlyfrom the corresponding surface;

means on one of said members and extending laterally therefrom inoverlying relationship to the uppermost margin of the other member forclosing said joint when said members are secured to the sections and forpermitting relative movement of said other member and said means as themembers move toward and away from one another upon expansion andcontraction of said sections; and

a fiexible element secured to and spanning the distance between saidmembers below said closing means, said element being disposed forsealing said joint when said members are secured to said sections, saidelement being provided with a pair of opposed sides, said closing meansbeing disposed for clamping said sides to the uppermost margins of saidmembers,

said other expansion member including a fiashing member having a firstportion overlying the corresponding side of the element and slidablyengaging said closing means, said flashing member being provided with asecond portion extending downwardly from said first portion and beingnormally spaced from the major portion of said other member to present aregion therebetween for receiving a quantity of roofing material.

3. Expansion joint structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said secondportion is provided With a line of weakness therein intermediate theupper and lower extremities thereof, said second portion being bendableabout said line of weakness toward said other member to clamp thequantity of roofing material against said other member.

4. Expansion joint cover structure for spaced structural sectionsforming at least a part of the roof of a building and defining anelongated expansion joint therebetween, at least one of the sectionshaving an outer face extending away from the other section, said coverstructure comprismg:

a pair of relatively rigid, extrudable, cover body members adapted to beafiixed to respective sections along the length thereof adjacent saidjoint therebetween, the member mounted on said one section projectingupwardly therefrom in generally perpendicular relationship to said outerface of the section; and

a cover element rigid with the Iother member and extending across thejoint in spanning relationship to the space between said sections whenthe members are mounted thereon, the upper margin of the member mountedon said one section defining an elongated bearing surface extendinglongitudinally of the joint, said cover element being disposed toslidably engage said surface in load bearing and substantial sealingrelationship and being of sufliicent width to accommodate substantialmovement of at least one of the sections relative to the other sectionWhile remaining in slidable, sealing engagement with said surface of themember on said one section, there being a longitudinally extending,downturned leg segment on said cover element, said leg segment disposedwith a free edge lower than and beyond said bearing surface on the sidethereof remote from said other member, said member mounted on said onesection having means thereon beneath said element adapted for receivingthe margin of a quantity of roofing material therein.

5. Expansion joint structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein isincluded a transversely fiexible and resilient gasket secured to andspanning the distance between said members below said cover element,said gasket being disposed for sealing said joint when said members aresecured to said sections.

6. Expansion joint structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said coverelement is mounted on said one member at an angle relative thereto,causing the cover member to be biased toward said surface when themembers are afiixed to respective sections.

7. Expansion joint structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said coverelement has a flat segment on the lower side thereof extendinglongitudinally of said joint, said flat segment and said surface beingin complemental engagement throughout their respective lengths forlateral, relative sliding movement therebetween during shifting of themembers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EARL J. WITMER,Primary Examiner.

1888 Germany. 10/1957 Italy.

2. EXPANSION JOINT STRUCTURE FOR A PAIR OF RELATIVELY SHIFTABLE ROOFSECTIONS HAVING RESPECTIVE UPPER SURFACES SEPARATED BY A JOINTHEREBETWEEN, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A PAIR OF EXPANSION MEMBERSADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO RESPECTIVE SECTIONS ADJACENT THE MARGINSTHEREOF DEFINING SAID JOINT AND TO EXTEND UPWARDLY FROM THECORRESPONDING SURFACE; MEANS ON ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND EXTENDINGLATERALLY THEREFROM IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO THE UPPERMOST MARGIN OFTHE OTHER MEMBER FOR CLOSING SAID JOINT WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE SECURED TOTHE SECTIONS AND FOR PERMITTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID OTHER MEMBERAND SAID MEANS AS THE MEMBERS MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER UPONEXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF SAID SECTIONS; AND A FLEXIBLE ELEMENTSECURED TO AND SPANNING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS BELOW SAIDCLOSING MEANS, SAID ELEMENT BEING DISPOSED FOR SEALING SAID JOINT WHENSAID MEMBERS ARE SECURED TO SAID SECTIONS, SAID ELEMENT BEING PROVIDEDWITH A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDES, SAID CLOSING MEANS BEING DISPOSED FORCLAMPING SAID SIDES TO THE UPPERMOST MARGINS OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID OTHEREXPANSION MEMBER INCLUDING A FLASHING MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PORTIONOVERLYING THE CORRESPONDING SIDE OF THE ELEMENT AND SLIDABLY ENGAGINGSAID CLOSING MEANS, SAID FLASHING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A SECONDPORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST PORTION AND BEING NORMALLYSPACED FROM THE MAJOR PORTION OF SAID OTHER MEMBER TO PRESENT A REGIONTHEREBETWEEN FOR RECEIVING A QUANTITY OF ROOFING MATERIAL.